January 21, 2014

Philippines temporarily bans imports of poultry products from China

Spooked by an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that was discovered in Heibei province, the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from the People's Republic of China.

Last December, the China Animal Disease Control Centre reported to the Office Internationale Epizootie (OIE) of an outbreak of HPAI in the village of Zhungzhuang, Jiaozhuang, Baoding City in Heibei.  

The HPAI subtype H5N2 broke out and was detected in bird species. The outbreak was confirmed through tests conducted by Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Philippine government noted.

The department said in an e-mailed statement that it is banning poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, and semen, saying the ban on wild and domesticated birds from China is to protect the Philippine public.

The department said processing and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance for the importation of those products from China have been suspended. It ordered veterinary inspectors in all major ports to stop all shipments of poultry meat and similar products from China.

In April 2013, the DA also ordered a temporary ban against poultry and poultry products from China with the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Shanghai. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, citing the discovery of H7N9 avian influenza in poultry in Shanghai and neighbouring regions on the Eastern seaboard.